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Restarting your body, resetting your metabolism

Benefits of stem cell therapy include better organ function, better metabolism, and less muscular and joint pains.

WORDS ZSARLENE B. CHUA | ILLUSTRATION JOY DELA CRUZ DAGUN

Aging might not be inevitable after all—that is, if one is inclined to undergo Vietura’s Regenerative Cell Therapy procedure, which involves getting stem cells from one’s own adipose tissue before processing it and reintroducing it to the body to help it heal. Or, in the words of Vietura’s medical director, the procedure is meant to “restart the body.”

“It’s resetting your body metabolism. It’s really amazing because I did the procedure three years before we introduced it,” Dr. Mary Jane Torres, medical director of Vietura and Zen Institute, told High Life during an interview in May.

Stem cells by definition are “undifferentiated cells present in multicellular organisms capable of giving rise to more cells of the same type from which other kinds of cells can arise by differentiation.”

Prior to the procedure, Dr. Torres suffered from persistent knee pain that made it difficult for her to work out for long stretches of time. Benefits of stem cell therapy include better organ function, better metabolism, and less muscular and joint pains.

While most people over the age of 35 can undergo stem cell therapy, there are certain precautions: prospective patients must be cleared by the doctors, who must evaluate the health of their immune systems. Stem cell therapy isn’t recommended for people with active cancer, for example, since their immune systems are compromised. The same goes for those with HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. Patients on anticoagulant therapy should also think twice.

A person must also be psychologically ready to undergo treatment. The procedure needs to extract fat from the patient via liposuction, which requires local anesthesia. The payoff of stem cell therapy versus “entry-level” procedures such as colonics, said Dr. Torres, is that the former’s effects are “longer and deeper”: “Stem cell therapy can really prevent degenerative diseases and delay the aging process because cells are given more time to divide and live. It can boost the immune system and regenerate cells.”

Those who have been cleared to undergo the procedure will then be taken into a sterile room (Vietura will open its sterile room this June while Zen Institute in Quezon City already has an operational one). It is here that the patient undergoes manual liposuction under local anesthesia: 150 ml of fat is aspirated and centrifuged to separate the fat/lipid component from the stromal vascular fraction that contains stem cells.

After the separation, the stem cells are counted to ensure adequacy—there should be no less than six million cells—if the count is high enough, the cells are then injected back into the patient.

The process doesn’t stop there as results largely depend on the body’s own regenerative healing ability and it may take time—usually between four to six weeks—to see improvement. In the meantime, Dr. Torres recommended that patients get immune booster shots.

Regenerative cell therapy, which is not a treatment but a preventive procedure, was offered by Vietura in March 2017. “I do recommend doing it every five years because, in that time, your body has aged,” Dr. Torres said. The ambulatory procedure only takes a day but the beauty of being in a hotel, she explained, is that people can stay overnight to rest and enjoy—that is included in Vietura’s Php800,000++ package.

INCIDENTAL INTELLIGENCE
Vietura Aesthetic Center is located at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila, CCP Complex, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City. Zen Institute has a branch in 69 Scout Rallos, Diliman, Quezon City. Visit vietura.com and zeninstitute.com.

Mind, body, and soul working together

A lot of people think that living life to the fullest means doing everything under the sun, but did it ever occur to you that life can be enjoyed during its pauses?

WORDS JOSEPH L. GARCIA

Breathe in, breathe out. Life is a long, often troubling ride, and we might as well make the most of it by picking up all the good that might come across our way. A lot of people think that living life to the fullest means doing everything under the sun, but did it ever occur to you that life can be enjoyed during its pauses?

Some people live their lives around yoga, the ancient Indian philosophy tied to exercise and meditation, that might be summed up as assuming poses and practicing correct breathing techniques. The world of yoga is incredibly diverse, its imprint spreading across Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. This writer apologizes in advance for the awfully simplistic definition, because based on this writer’s experience, yoga means making the mind, body, and soul work together for one to be in communion with the universe. Perhaps it’s fitting that the Sanskrit word translates to English as “yoke,” thereby implying that one becomes attached to a force greater than one’s own.

High Life talked to Urban Ashram Yoga instructor Carlo Ordoñez, who goes by Janaka, a name given to him by the monks in Sivananda, a yoga center where he trained in Val Morin, Quebec. After his stint in Canada, he moved to California, living an ascetic lifestyle centered on meditation and physical work. “Almost as a monk,” he told High Life. “It was a joyful time there where I met truly light beings of Mahatma status changing the collective vibration through silent service.”

He began his yoga practice in college in the early 2000s, where he described himself as “mentally, physically broken down.” He believes that his practice began his healing process.

High Life asked Mr. Ordoñez about yoga routines for executives and people in positions of power, whom we termed as “extra-busy” people. Yoga was brought to the West in the 20th century, and was embraced by people as diverse as Madonna to former US Vice-President Al Gore. Mr. Ordoñez said that “extra-busy” people like executives are drawn to it because it’s simply effective and practical. “Nobody is too busy to do yoga really,” said Mr. Ordoñez. “That is just an excuse because yoga can be practiced anywhere, any time by everyone regardless of fitness or background. You can squeeze in a five-minute practice in your office if you’re determined to practice.”

While there are many yoga classes offered in the country, ranging from free classes to thousands of pesos per session, there’s a certain advantage to hiring your own yoga instructor. Mr. Ordoñez said: “Yoga, meaning union, is finding your own individual connection to the Self. Firstly, you will have a personalized design to your sessions, tailor-fit to your specific needs whether physical, mental or spiritual. Secondly, you learn to build a solid foundation and relationship to your own mind and body with your guide in a more in-depth process. Thirdly, you have the advantage of creating your own discipline and expression of the practice in a more focused trajectory.”

inside-urban-ashram-janaka
Urban Ashram Yoga instructor Carlo Ordoñez (who goes by the name Janaka) says that yoga can be practiced anywhere, any time by everyone regardless of fitness or backgrounds. Photo courtesy of Urban Ashram Manila

CLEAN, SIMPLE, AND FREE OF DISTRACTIONS
If you’re getting your own yoga instructor, why not build your own meditation room—everybody needs a sanctuary from this world. According to Mr. Ordoñez, a person’s yoga or meditation room (or corner) should be clean, simple, and free of distractions: “As much as possible everything you’re surrounded by in the space should be related to your practice and promote a sense of wholeness and inwardness/interiorization—it is a time you devote for yourself.”

The space should have basics such as a mat, a bolster or chair to sit on for meditation, and a shelf or altar containing symbols of inspiration.

Even without a meditation room, however, one can still tap into the energies and knowledge of yoga. A person really, really pressed for time can, ironically, start the day right by staying in bed for a few more moments. “Take a minute in the morning before jumping out of bed to mindfully take a deep breath in and take a breath out while scanning the length of the body and each part, then add another minute working your way up to five minutes if you can, then sit in stillness. Add this practice at intervals throughout the day,” said Mr. Ordoñez. “Breath is a person’s first mantra coming into the world but we forget and get distracted from it by societal conditioning and ‘busyness.’”

LIVING IN THE PRESENT
Yoga can help you become more efficient at work. “Practitioners generally find that they’re more calm, productive and efficient in any of their pursuits. If the mind is clear and focused, the body can move and breathe healthfully—then, it’s manageable to navigate around one’s environment. One finds that tackling activities are done by being present.”

If one lives in the present, then one can forget about worrying about the past and panicking about the future. The goal is inner freedom, liberation, or moksha in Sanskrit yoga terminology, a state described by Mr. Ordoñez as an “eternal now-timeless, in-the-zone, flow-state.” “Yoga,” he continued, is “a hack, so to speak, to free oneself from limitations, challenges, and illusions on all levels.”

Sidebar | A word from officer safety

Meet the Cruiserheads, a group of guys who ride their bikes in search of good food and good coffee.

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Everyday grind: How C-Suite executives keep in shape

The many ways executives keep in shape.

WORDS HIGH LIFE STAFF | ILLUSTRATION TONE DAÑAS

Maintaining a sound body is necessary when you’re responsible for an entire company. How can you make tough decisions when you’re distracted by health problems? Four executives share how they take care of themselves (there’s something for everyone, even the gym-averse).

Gerwyn See, founder and CEO of MASE Investments, Inc.

As the chief executive officer of a holding company and business consultancy firm that specializes in business development, corporate, planning, and governance, Mr. See sees to it that he gets pumped up every day. His secret? Staying active. “My primary motivation for working out is to stay fit and to stay in shape. But beyond these goals, my fitness regime has already evolved to be part of my lifestyle. I lead a very challenging life balancing the demands of both career and family.  Fitness has been my regular outlet to recharge and collect myself—and perhaps to stay sane,” he said.

Work out every day.
“I normally start my day with a morning run on a treadmill while watching Bloomberg. But every now and then, I like taking my jog outside just to keep things interesting. I guess what’s important is doing my cardio in a fasted state (fasted cardio), which helps me keep fat loss at a very optimum level as I’m not getting any younger. I’m 38, if you wish to know. Then, I do my weight training in the evenings after work.  I train about an hour and a half, four times a week. I’ve got a fitness coach who keeps me on track. We mix up exercises and routines depending on our goal at that specific time. It is always good to have professional advice to keep you motivated and get proper results.”

But it’s okay to cheat, sometimes.
“We’re not machines, of course we go through our lazy days. We all go through our own ups and downs. And I would say that a tolerable level of ‘unhealthy cheat’ is acceptable.

“So go, don’t deprive yourself from that craving. Just don’t do it every day. I’ve always believed that taking one bad meal will not make you fat, just as having one good meal will not automatically slim you down. You have to invest in it. And it takes some time to see results, months or even years.”

Gym or village, it doesn’t matter.
“I always do my cardio at home and my jogging around our village, which lasts for about 30 minutes every morning. For weight training, we hold our sessions either at Treston Health Club in BGC or The Rockwell Club in Makati City. My work and family life revolves around these areas, so I train where ever it would be convenient.”

Work-life balance.
“I run on a very tight schedule, but I can’t say it’s perfect all the time. As much as I can, I try to organize my week and allocate specific times and routines for both work and play. My weekdays are normally packed with meetings and trips as I juggle my week between several companies and projects, but for my weekends, they are always dedicated to family. I guess I’m a creature of habit. And I work well having that consistent schedule for my daily and weekly regime.”

Ariel G. Cantos, Philam Life CEO

inside-ariel-cantosHis day starts in silence: prayer and reflection. In the middle of the day, meanwhile, a quiet time is observed to manage stress. For Mr. Cantos, it is not necessary to go the extra mile when it comes to wellness. Rather, it is about the simple things: incorporating a routine into your daily life. “Wellness is not just about being physically fit. It is in finding balance in the different aspects of our life that we find holistic wellness,” he said.

Despite his hectic schedule, he is committed to fitness. “There are so many reasons that will keep us from achieving our fitness and wellness goal, but with discipline and commitment, it can be done,” he said.

Be active in your youth.
“I used to be very active when I was much younger. I played football, basketball, volleyball, badminton, went to the gym regularly, and was even into mountain climbing as I love nature.”

Walk 12,500 steps a day.
“During the day, I make an effort to accumulate as many steps as possible to get close to my goal of 12,500 steps a day. Doing at least 10,000 steps a day, I learned, is good for the heart. I consciously incorporate the steps into my day to make it easier to achieve my goal.”

Walk to reduce stress.
“On normal days, I would have tallied about 4,500 steps by the time I leave the office. I complete my 12,500 steps by walking around our village at night. These evening walks along tree-lined streets while listening to relaxing music frees the mind of distractions, and also helps remove any stress built during the day… Domestic and foreign travels are part of my job. I take these trips as an opportunity to relax and do my 12,500 daily steps which is equivalent to about 10 kilometers a day.”

Exercise no matter what.
“Once, I completed my steps just inside my room when the hotel did not have a gym and the weather was bad. Another time, I requested a hotel to open the gym so I could use the treadmill when I checked in at 10 p.m.”

Make room for a small gym at home.
“I removed my lame excuse for skipping exercise when it rains. I bought a treadmill and converted my attic into a small gym, so I can work on my steps even when it is raining.”

Dan Torres, head of digital for Samsung Electronics Philippines

inside-dan-torresCellphones and the Internet have bad reps: they make us screen-addicted couch potatoes endlessly scrolling through cat pictures. In reality, smartphones have built-in health tracking systems that can monitor your heart rate and the number of steps you’ve taken. You can also keep tabs on your physical activity, diet, and sleep. Your smartphone can help you record your progress and share your gains on social media. Just ask Dan Torres, head of digital for Samsung Electronics Philippines.

A triathlete, he pursued the multisport after he almost drowned during a beach trip with friends in 2008. To conquer his fear of open water, he joined as many competitions as he could.

“My ultimate goal is to be able to qualify to race in the Ironman World Championship held in Kona, Hawaii (4 -km swim, 180-km bike and 42-km run). What I love about this sport is that you are training for three disciplines. It doesn’t get boring,” said the triathlete, who is training for the Ironman 70.3 Cebu (2-km swim, 90-km bike, 21-km run) in August and Ironman Western Australia (4-km swim, 180-km bike and 42-km run) in December.

Train to conquer fears.
“I’ve always feared the open water. To conquer this fear, I enrolled in Coach Norman Pascual’s learn-to-swim program in 2015. The opportunity opened up when an ex-Samsung colleague invited me to join the said program. When I started swim training, I initially had no intentions of swimming in open water. In February 2017, my coach opened the idea of me joining one of his open water workshops in Subic. I gave it a shot. His instructions and tips definitely gave me a confidence boost.”

It’s now or never.
“My coach, Norman, is very hands on. A lot of his students come from zero background in triathlons and after just a few months are able to change to healthier lifestyles. He helped a lot in showing me that there really is no time limit for people to get fit. People of any age and of any background can do triathlons for as long as they commit themselves to it. I definitely think that this is something more people should engage in. I myself did not believe in this kind of lifestyle when I was younger. I was totally not a sporty type. When I discovered the benefits that come with living such a lifestyle, I immediately got hooked.”

Bye-bye late nights.
“One should be fully committed to it. I had to fully change my lifestyle just to be able to cope. I gave up the late nights and oily food, and disciplined myself to sleep early and eat healthy. I feel more alert and energetic on days when I have training. On days I don’t train, I feel sluggish. This is one of the main factors why I decided to do a full triathlon training. I love how I felt coming to work after training in the morning. It was hard in the first two weeks, but when your body has adjusted to the demands of the training, it becomes a easier. Eventually, your body will even start looking for it.”

Go hard, or go home.
“I train, on average, for 10 hours per week, which includes biking for at least an hour and a half—an average of 40 kilometers—on Mondays at the Mall of Asia Grounds. I also do endurance biking sessions on Saturdays for three hours to Nuvali, Laguna, or Guagua, Pampanga; then an hour of swimming—an average of two kilometers—at the Makati Aqua Sports Arena on Tuesdays and Fridays; a short high-intensity run for one-and-a-half hours—an average of seven kilometers—at the University of Makati on Thursdays, and finally, a long high-intensity run on Sundays for two hours at Bonifacio Global City in Taguig or at the UP Oval in Quezon City.”

Olivia Limpe-Aw, president of Destileria Limtuaco & Co.,Inc.

For Olivia Limpe-Aw, health and wellness is not about the pursuit of a gold medal, but an exercise in moderation. Ms. Limpe-Aw is the president of Destileria Limtuaco & Co., Inc., established in 1852. Held by the family’s fifth generation, the distillery is behind spirits such as Manille Liqueur de Calamansi, White Castle Whisky, Napoleon VSOP brandy, El Hombre tequila, and Toska vodka. One would think that an heiress to a liquor fortune would be a tippler, but Ms. Limpe-Aw is far from being one. As the adage of any good trader goes: “Don’t get high on your own supply.” She said, “It’s there all the time—there’s no need for me to indulge.” Finally, a page from her book to the company’s patrons: “Drink only what you can take.”

Sleep is not for the weak.
“I don’t smoke. I drink for work, not for socials. I also make sure that I get enough sleep.”

Moderation is key.
“I don’t really deprive myself. My diet consists of vegetables and seafood, with some meat mixed in, and very small allowances for sweets. Thanks to my diet and moderate lifestyle I can work long hours; I have a lot of energy. I can concentrate well. I feel good—if  you feel good, you can work well.” 

The beautiful game | Fashion

Photography by Rxandy Capinpin. Styling by Carlos Tomawis with Nina Magdalen M. Diaz. Modeled by Elisa Taylor of Elite Model Management. Make-up and hair styling by Pamm Merrera. 

Special thanks to Cathy Nazareno, Coach Jojo Durian, and Sparta Philippines.

You are what you eat | Why you should think twice before ‘going keto’

Plants vs. lipids. A look at ketogenic and vegan diets.

WORDS CAMILLE ROMERO-MONTENEGRO

The famed ketogenic diet is all the rage these days. It is a low-carb, moderate-protein and high-fat diet where the goal is to have the body enter a metabolic state called ketosis. Ketosis is where your body produces a significant amount of ketones that triggers your body to use fat as a source of energy instead of carbohydrates. This happens when you decrease the amount of carbohydrates in your diet significantly or if there is not enough insulin to help your body use sugar as energy.

Studies show that the ketogenic diet may improve symptoms for Epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and other neurological disorders because of its anti-inflammatory effects.  And although effective for weight loss for most people, there are risks that come with going low carb, as in the ketogenic diet.

Prolonged ketosis leads to ketoacidosis
When your blood sugar is consistently low due to minimal carbohydrate intake, the body tends to increase cortisol levels and therefore, there is a severe decrease in insulin levels. According to the Diabetes Teaching Center at the University of California, San Francisco, “when there is not enough insulin, the fat cells keep releasing fat into the circulation, and the liver keeps making more and more ketones and ketoacids. The rising ketoacid levels make the blood pH too low.” This state is also known as ketoacidosis. The high levels of ketones in your body or ketoacidosis makes your blood very acidic that can burden your kidneys which can lead, if untreated, to death.

Your body needs carbs
Carbohydrates, often painted the villain of macronutrients, are important for the body to function properly. They are crucial in the production of serotonin which is your mood stabilizer or your happy hormone, the regulation of cortisol levels, the energy availability for your red blood cells, tissues and brain for proper function, and your recovery after strenuous activities. Carbs are absolutely essential in a person’s daily nutrient intake. This is why the body naturally craves carbs when it gets insufficient amounts.

It’s unsustainable
It’s easy to fall into a “dirty” ketogenic diet. In the Philippines, you will hear about people who are on the ketogenic diet but are feasting on foods high in trans-fat or hydrogenated oils such as fried food, chicharon, or non-grass fed meat and dairy sources. In addition, most people who are on the ketogenic diet are actually on Atkins. On the ketogenic diet, you must be consuming 60%-75% of calories from good fat, 15%-30% from protein, and 5%-10% from carbohydrates, whereas here, when on keto, people tend to consume most of their calories from protein instead of fat.

These practices have transformed the ketogenic diet into something that may be detrimental to your health. We have seen in our practice how a “dirty” ketogenic diet can lead to constipation, liver damage, high levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol and increased risk of heart disease.

Furthermore, the low blood sugar levels that come with the ketogenic diet (or any low-carb diet for that matter) inevitably causes extreme cravings. And once the craving of sugar and carbohydrates are satisfied (ex. cakes, artificial sweeteners, candy), regardless the amount, the body is instantly taken out of the state of ketosis.

Still want to try the ketogenic diet?
Consult with your doctor or nutritionist to see if the ketogenic diet is for you. And if it is, seek guidance on what to eat. “Without professional supervision, the ketogenic diet may be dangerous for your health. Consuming high amounts of food like chicharon, bacon or burgers to say that they are on a ketogenic diet can cause damage to the liver among other things. The ketogenic diet should be well thought out in terms of caloric computation and macronutrient distribution,” says Edrea Teope, Baron Method’s nutritionist dietician.

It is critical to consume good fats. Stick to whole foods that are high in nutrients such as avocados, coconut or MCT (medium chain triglyceride) oil, raw nuts, organic almond butter, olive oil, organic eggs, grass-fed butter, and other similar sources.

Don’t do it long term. The ketogenic diet is best used in cycles of 8-10 weeks, once or twice a year.  Maintain a healthy eating plan for the rest of the year for best results.

Camille Romero-Montenegro is a nutrition coach at Baron Method. For more information, visit baronmethod.com.

To read the feature on the benefits of vegan diet, click here.

You are what you eat | Going green: the benefits of a plant-based diet

Plants vs. lipids. A look at ketogenic and vegan diets.

WORDS ANNA M. ADORA

Based on the data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority, seven out of 10 of the leading causes of death in our country are related to the diet and lifestyle choices we make. This data is consistent with the leading causes of death in other countries, which may signify a new phase of epidemiologic transition medical anthropologists call the age of inactivity and obesity. Rather than looking for a magic pill or trying fad diets, perhaps we should address the root cause and recognize the solution which has been right under our noses: a whole-food, plant-based diet.

Ischemic heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide and it is caused by cholesterol plaques that accumulate within our arteries, a process called atherosclerosis. This is an insidious process, occurring over decades, as the cholesterol plaque gradually reduces the space that blood can flow within the vessel. The restriction of the blood supply to the heart muscles may cause chest pain especially during moments of exertion, and much worse, if a plaque ruptures a clot can form within the artery causing a heart attack.

This is the reason cholesterol-lowering drugs (mostly statins) are among the best-selling drugs. However, according to a study published in Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, a diet consisting of leafy vegetables, fruits and nuts reduced LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol by more than 30%, which is the same effect when taking some statins, and without acquiring the side effects of taking the said medication.

A diet high in fiber (whole grains, legumes, fruits, vegetables, nuts and flaxseed) lowers our LDL and triglyceride levels and a diet high in saturated fat and cholesterol which are both found in meat, poultry, fish, eggs and dairy, have the opposite effect. Eating unhealthy food not only causes an anatomic obstruction in our arteries, but also affects their movement. Inflamed arteries are stiffer and are unable to relax normally. Meat can contain endotoxins which can cause inflammation, regardless of how the meat was prepared.

In a recent systematic literature review, evidence showed that a meat-based or Western-like diet is linked to higher inflammation and a vegetable-and-fruit-based diet is linked to lower inflammation. In another study where 604 people were asked to follow a whole-food, plant-based diet, their C reactive protein (CRP), a marker for inflammation and cardiovascular disease risk, lowered significantly in three weeks. Population studies of communities with low rates of heart disease are all centered on a plant-based diet high in grains and vegetables.

A plant-based diet can also reduce the risk for type 2 diabetes, another disease entity with an overwhelming health impact. In an Adventist population study, the odds of having diabetes was highest in non-vegetarians and lowest in vegans, even after being adjusted for body weight. In a meta-analysis released just last year, processed meat increased the risk for diabetes by 37% per each daily serving, followed by sugar-sweetened beverages (21%) and red meat (17%) while whole grains decreased the risk for diabetes by 13%.

A large-scale case-cohort study of diabetes study published in Diabetes Care found that replacing carbohydrates with protein increased the risk for type 2 diabetes, with the link between protein and diabetes exclusive to protein coming from animals. People who ate the highest amount of protein (109 g/day) had a 22% increase risk for developing diabetes. There is much more evidence linking meat intake to type 2 diabetes mellitus which is why it is not surprising that in the latest guidelines for the management of diabetes, a plant-based diet is now being recommended by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists.

If reduction of risk for heart disease and diabetes is not convincing enough, a plant-based diet can also reduce the risk of developing some types of cancer. In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) gave processed meat a Group 1 classification meaning that there is sufficient evidence to state that processed meat definitely causes cancer. Other carcinogens that belong to this group are smoking and alcohol. Red meat has been given a group 2A classification, meaning it probably causes cancer.

Processed meat is defined as any meat that has been cured, smoked, salted, fermented or has added preservatives. This includes food such as chicken nuggets, cold cuts, bacon, hot dogs, sausages, pepperoni and ham. The chemicals that are contained in these types of food have been proven to cause cancer, chemicals such as nitrate salts, heme iron, heterocyclic amines, polyaromatic hydrocarbons and N-glycolylneuraminic acid to name a few.

On the other end of the spectrum, a study in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition has stated that fruits and vegetables reduce the risk of esophageal cancer by 64%-67%, lung cancer by 26%-29%, colorectal cancer by 18%, and breast cancer by 11%. For these reasons, a plant-based diet is also recommended by another major health organization, the American Institute for Cancer Research.

But what about protein?
A popular misconception is that people on plant-based diets don’t get enough protein, when in fact, plants contain protein (all kinds of beans, broccoli, mushrooms, nuts, seeds, oats, spinach, avocado, just to name a few) and the healthier type of protein too.

A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine in 2016, which included 131,342 participants, plant protein was associated with a lower all-cause mortality, high animal protein intake was associated with a higher cardiovascular mortality and replacement of animal protein with plant protein can reduce mortality. Instead of worrying about the lack of protein, one should worry about excess protein, especially when it comes from an animal source.

Excess protein is either metabolized by the kidneys, liver, or stored as excess fat. Excess animal protein have been associated with obesity, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, kidney stones, gout, cancer and premature death.

Many people who decide to avoid meat and dairy make the mistake of consuming processed or unhealthy food that are “accidentally vegan”—potato chips, Oreos, vegetarian cup noodles. An unhealthy plant-based pattern may still increase the risk for the aforementioned illnesses. All of the studies mentioned have been based on a whole-food (“unprocessed”), plant-based diet.

Aside from affecting one’s physical health, a plant-based diet has a large impact on animals and our environment. Animals are bombarded with chemicals and antibiotics, live in the worst conditions and slaughtered as children. The animal agriculture industry is the largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. The food, land and water that is used to produce the meat and dairy that we consume leads to deforestation, destruction of wildlife and contributes to world hunger. By eating plant-based we show more compassion to ourselves, animals, and the world we live in.

Anna M. Adora is a vegan cardiologist.

Poll puts May price hike past target

By Melissa Luz T. Lopez
Senior Reporter
HIGHER OIL and food prices drove inflation even faster in May from a year ago to a fresh five-year high, analysts said in a BusinessWorld poll, even as the Finance department said in a bulletin that month-on-month tracking may signal slowing momentum ahead.
A poll among 10 economists yielded a median estimate of 4.9%, which if realized will be the highest inflation rate in at least five years.
The median falls near the midpoint of the 4.6-5.4% range given last week by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and matches the estimate given by the Department of Finance for May.
It also means that inflation will pick up for the fifth straight month from April’s 4.5%, surging from 2.9% in May 2017.
Such a pace in May will push year-to-date inflation further past the ceiling of the central bank’s 2-4% full-year target range that had already been pierced in April.
Inflation Rate Estimates May
The Philippine Statistics Authority will release official inflation data tomorrow.
The Finance department said in its bulletin that “inflationary momentum, however, appears to be receding” as the month-on-month change in prices of widely used goods slowed to 0.32% in May from 0.52% in April.
“Inflation may appear to be rising year-on-year but it is actually decelerating as month-on-month inflation continues to drop,” the bulletin read.
Sought for comment, Michael L. Ricafort, economist at Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., said via e-mail: “Inflation has increased since the start of 2018 due to higher global crude oil prices, higher US dollar/peso exchange rate among 12-year highs, higher taxes under the TRAIN (Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion) law and resulting second-round inflation effects in terms of upward adjustments in the prices of affected goods and services.”
Low stocks drove rice prices higher, economists said, adding to price upticks attributed to new taxes on cigarettes and liquor.
Alvin P. Ang, economics professor at the Ateneo de Manila University, noted that seasonal price adjustments ahead of the start of classes likely stoked inflation pressures.
Retail pump prices shot up last month to reflect world crude prices, which hit their highest levels in over three years, while the peso continued its depreciation to P52.70 versus the greenback in May.
Several lawmakers want to suspend implementation of the TRAIN law in a bid to temper inflation, especially the provision that raised the excise tax on fuel products. Next year will see mid-term elections for both chambers of Congress.
Analysts said suspending tax reform implementation would be a bad idea as it would derail the government’s infrastructure spending programs and, consequently, economic growth.
“[T]his may not address a probable runaway inflation level moving forward. There are other inefficiencies in the local economy that are putting upward pressure on price levels,” said Ruben Carlo O. Asuncion, chief economist at Union Bank of the Philippines.
The Finance department attributed the spike in petroleum prices to rising global oil prices and the peso’s depreciation, rather than higher excise taxes. It added that “[a] meaningful drop in prices is attainable if the food supply problem is solved because food accounts for 35.5% of the consumer basket,” as it pushed a bill in Congress to shift to rice tariffs from the current quota system for imports as a way to temper price increases of the staple.
With inflation expected to rise further, more analysts are pricing in another rate hike from the central bank by the third quarter.
“The continual increase in inflation, I think, will likely lead to an increase in inflation expectations of consumers and firms. This buildup in inflation expectations, I believe, will likely increase future inflation, and therefore raises the probability of another policy rate hike by the BSP this year,” Security Bank Corp. economist Angelo B. Taningco said, noting that he expects the decision by August.
Another rate hike may be necessary to “manage the persistent weakness of the country’s currency,” added Guian Angelo S. Dumalagan, market economist at Land Bank of the Philippines.
The BSP announced a 25-basis-point rate hike on May 10, the first increase in nearly four years.
The central bank has conceded to missing its 2-4% inflation target for 2018, as latest estimates showed that the full-year pace could average 4.6%.
Emmanuel J. Lopez, chairman of the University of Santo Tomas Department of Economics, said however: “I don’t see the immediate need to temper price adjustments because local economic conditions are not the main culprit for the current acceleration in price and inflation.”

BIR seeks to speed up transactions

THE BUREAU of Internal Revenue (BIR) has taken more steps to speed up taxpayer transactions.
Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) 43-2018, signed by BIR Commissioner Caesar R. Dulay on May 18, said the bureau has created a “fast lane” for one-time, simple transactions.
“In line with the BIR’s efforts to promote the delivery of quality service to all stakeholders, all One-Time Transaction Teams are hereby directed to create a fast lane that will cater to individuals or corporations filing capital gains tax or donor’s tax returns with only one deed of sale/exchange/donation involving one to three properties,” the circular read.
The circular added that transactions will be processed and electronic certificates authorizing registration released “within three working days upon submission of complete documentary requirements,” including the certificate which authorized agent banks furnish taxpayers after payment.
Sought for comment, Eleanor L. Roque of P&A Grant Thornton’s Tax Advisory & Compliance said in a mobile phone message that “any improvement in the process to fast-track transactions is a welcome development.”
At the same time, she said it remains to be seen whether regulations actually translate into practice.
Ms. Roque added that the envisioned fast lane could cover more transactions in the future. “After we see the results of the new RMC, then maybe we can push for more transactions to be included such as request for confirmation rulings and even application for registration,” she said.
Meanwhile, Revenue Memorandum Order No. 25-2018, signed by Mr. Dulay on May 28, split up the Inspection and Acceptance Committee into two independent teams that inspect and verify, respectively, delivery of goods and services, infrastructure projects and consulting services.
Covered are items like: vehicles; buildings and related facilities; consulting and other services rendered; information technology (IT) software licenses/contracts/certificates, hardware/equipment, reports, manuals, systems documentation, application/system software and IT-related services; as well as non-IT equipment, spare parts and construction materials, among others.
“There shall be an inspection sub-committee for far-flung/remote areas, which shall cover island district offices and district offices requiring travel by land of 200 kilometers distance or at least four hours continuous travel from the Regional Offices,” the new order added.
BIR said the new order was “in line with the directive of the present government to streamline the processes and documentary requirements.” — E. J. C. Tubayan

FINTQ introducing new digital agricultural value chain platform

FINTQnologies Corp. (FINTQ) is introducing a new platform to help farmers and fisherfolk get easier access to affordable financing.
In a statement, the financial technology (fintech) arm of PLDT Group’s Voyager Innovations, Inc. said the Accelerated Growth and Rural Inclusion (AGRI) is an end-to-end digital agricultural value chain platform that connects producers to consumers for optimized productivity. This is part of FINTQ’s KasamaKA grassroots advocacy program.
The AGRI platform includes access to financial services through FINTQ’s digital lending platform Lendr, digital commerce through a marketplace as well as logistics infrastructure management in partnership with Metropac Movers.
FINTQ intends to initially launch the AGRI platform in eight pilot areas, mostly in Mindanao.
FINTQ Managing Director Angelito M. Villanueva said the platform will help address the challenge of providing financing in the agriculture sector.
“Farmers and fisherfolk are still deemed as high risk borrowers of banks, but with the intervention of the AGRI platform, which covers end-to-end of the agri-value chain, this will level the playing field,” Mr. Villanueva was quoted as saying in a statement. “AGRI will serve as an alternative channel for agriculture workers to source funds from Lendr partner banks and financial institutions.”
Aside from providing alternative credit options, the platform will also help the agricultural workers earn higher income by removing the unnecessary middlemen with direct farm to business and consumer approach, reducing costs to the end consumers as well.
The AGRI program and platform is being introduced nationwide in collaboration with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), Department of Agriculture, various local government unit associations and other industry partners.
For his part, BSP Governor Nestor A. Espenilla, Jr. said that innovations enabled by digital technology and value chain approach makes agri-financing more viable.
“[It will also] unlock new opportunities for rural banks and cooperatives to deliver a whole range of financial services catering to the unique needs of farmers and their communities,” Mr. Espenilla added.
Voyager Innovations is PLDT, Inc.’s digital innovations unit. Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has a stake in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls. — Karl Angelo N. Vidal

Global trade spat puts factories, recovery at risk

LONDON/BEIJING — Factory growth in major manufacturing hubs showed signs of cooling last month as companies braced for potential damage from rising global trade tensions while also grappling with accelerating inflation and a strong dollar.
US President Donald Trump’s moves to slap tariffs on some of the country’s most important trading partners have rattled financial markets, and many are now fretting about the potential threat to what is now mostly synchronized world growth.
Stocks rose and bond yields fell on Friday last week as investors welcomed an apparent end to a political crisis in Italy but prospects for a full-blown trade war put a dampener on gains.
“The uncertainty about future trade and Trump’s contempt for international rules can deal a significant blow to business confidence especially in trade-oriented nations,” said Holger Schmieding, chief economist at Berenberg.
That danger was made all the more real on Thursday when the United States and its key allies announced tit-for-tat tariffs.
A US trade delegation was in Beijing last weekend for a third round of talks between the two countries in the last month after Washington said it would slap tariffs on $50 billion of Chinese imports.
The risk is that a full-blown Sino-US trade war will ripple through global supply chains, hurting economies from Europe to Mexico through to Australia and Japan.
EUROPE LOSING MOMENTUM
Euro zone factory growth stayed strong but slowed to a 15-month low in May, hampered by extra holidays, and forward-looking indicators suggest it will at best remain subdued in coming months, a business survey showed.
Higher prices appear to have hurt demand and IHS Markit’s May final manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index for the bloc slipped for a fifth month, falling to a 15-month low of 55.5 from April’s 56.2, in line with a flash reading.
Anything over 50 indicates growth.
German factory growth was also at a 15-month low and French manufacturing activity picked up less than expected, highlighting a more uncertain trade outlook.
British manufacturers bucked the global trend in May and picked up speed for the first time in six months. But the slight improvement masked underlying weakness among the country’s factories.
Chinese manufacturing, meanwhile, has grown steadily so far this year. The Caixin/Markit Manufacturing PMI was unchanged at 51.1 in May, although new export orders fell for a second straight month.
“Forthcoming trade tensions could put pressure on trade and related supply chain activities… We believe that investment decisions in potentially affected industries have been delayed,” ING China economist Iris Pang said in a note.
The Markit/Nikkei Japan Manufacturing PMI fell to a seven-month low of 52.8 for May, with domestic business growth slowing and only a modest pick up seen in export orders.
Corporate capital expenditure in Japan rose at a slower pace in the first quarter compared with the previous one, a separate report showed. Further stress on exports is likely to restrain any rebound from an economic contraction at the start of the year.
South Korea, another major export hub, reported strong shipment growth in May. But a factory survey found activity contracted for a third straight month as new orders continued to decline, prompting companies to cut staff at the fastest pace in almost a decade.
BUT RATES STILL SET TO RISE
Higher oil prices and a rising dollar have hammered currencies of late, with trade friction and heightened geopolitical uncertainties around North Korea, Iran and Italy adding to pressure.
Economies are seeing inflation flare up while currencies have taken a hit, raising expectations for interest rate hikes.
The European Central Bank (ECB) will finish its stimulus program by the end of 2018, according to a Reuters poll of economists last month, although nearly half of those surveyed said it was not in control of inflation, which had remained stubbornly below target.
But prices in the bloc rose a faster-than-expected 1.9% last month from a year earlier, official data showed on Thursday, pretty much spot on the ECB’s target.
The Bank of England, facing inflation above its target, is expected to raise interest rates in August.
Indonesia’s central bank has already raised rates this year and Indian policy makers might tighten policy soon.
India on Thursday reported its quickest pace of economic growth in nearly two years in January-March and the Reserve Bank of India is expected to hike rates in August — a dramatic turnaround from just a month ago, when a survey predicted no increase until the second half of 2019. — Reuters

Online stock market accounts jump in 2017

THE Philippine Stock Exchange, Inc. (PSE) saw a surge in the number of online stock market accounts last year, hitting 11% of the total trading value for the year, according to the Stock Market Investor Profile Report for 2017.
In a statement, the PSE said online accounts in the stock market grew by 28.5% to 388,864 in 2017, versus the 302,516 accounts recorded in the year before. Value turnover from these accounts stood at P372.06 billion, 12.9% higher than in 2016.
“Clearly, more and more investors now prefer to trade and invest in the stock market through online trading systems. We hope to further grow the number of stock brokerage firms that offer online trading services so that the stock market becomes even more accessible to everyone,” PSE President and Chief Executive Officer Ramon S. Monzon said in a statement.
More than half of these online retail investors were aged 30 to 44, consistent with the trend seen in previous years. Investors aged 18 to 29 accounted for 22.5%, while 45- to 59-year-olds comprised 17.9%. Those aged 60 and above provided the remaining 5.9% for total online accounts.
In terms of annual income, over 50% of the online investors earned less than P500,000. Less than a third earned between P500,000 to P1 million a year, while 15.8% made more than P1 million per year.
Online investors coming from Metro Manila made up 52.4% of the total online accounts, 29% came from Luzon. Only 8.5% and 5.7% came from Visayas and Mindanao, respectively.
“Admittedly, we have more ground to cover. We hope that through our continued market education initiatives as well as the marketing efforts of our accredited stockbrokers, we will be able to encourage more individuals, based here or abroad, to invest in our stock market,” Mr. Monzon said.
Meanwhile, the total number of stock market accounts for retail investors went up by 12.7% to 841,532, accounting for 96.9% of the total accounts in the exchange. Institutional investors provided the remaining 3.1% or 27,278, which went up 2.6%.
Only 1.7% of the total accounts were owned by foreign investors, while 98.3% were owned by locals.
Retail investors from Luzon grew to 20.8% from 16.4% of total accounts last year. There were also more investors seen in Visayas and Mindanao, with the former growing to 8.2% of total accounts versus 6.2% in 2016. Mindanao accounted for 4.5%, against 2.9% the year before.
“I attribute the growth in retail investors outside Metro Manila to the streamlined account opening processes of online stockbrokerage firms. I also think that the broker expo feature of our very successful road shows in Davao and Iloilo last year helped bump up the numbers because road show attendees were able to open stock market accounts with stockbrokerage firms at the event venue,” Mr. Monzon said.
Metro Manila still had the largest share of retail investors at 64.2%, although slipping from 70.6% in 2016. — Arra B. Francia

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